Most UK small businesses pay somewhere between £300 and £2,000 a month for social media management. Where you land depends on who does it, how many platforms they cover and whether content creation is included. Here's what the published 2026 rate cards actually say, and what to check before you sign anything.

The quick answer

Published UK pricing guides from 2026 broadly agree on these monthly ranges:

Who does itTypical monthly cost
Virtual assistant£150–£400
Junior freelancer£250–£800
Experienced freelancer£500–£2,000
Small or boutique agency£800–£4,000
Mid-size agency£2,000–£7,000
Specialist or large agency£3,000–£15,000+

These ranges combine Whito's research on published UK rate cards and Bravery Technology's 2026 pricing guide. The UK marketplace Bark puts the average at around £450 a month, with most quotes between £300 and £800.

None of these are audited surveys, so treat them as a guide to the market rather than exact prices.

How social media managers charge

You'll usually see one of four pricing models:

  • Monthly retainer. A fixed fee for an agreed number of posts and platforms. This is the most common model and the easiest to budget for.
  • Hourly or day rate. Freelancers typically charge roughly £15–£60 an hour depending on experience, according to Whito's tables, while Bark sees quotes from about £40 to £100+ an hour. YunoJuno reports an average day rate of £326 for social media managers on its platform.
  • Per platform. Some providers price each channel separately. Whito's data shows TikTok as the most expensive to manage (£300–£800 a month) because it needs a steady flow of video, with Instagram and LinkedIn at £200–£500 each and Facebook at £150–£400.
  • Per post or per video. Common for content-only work. Birdeye's guide quotes £300–£2,000 per short-form video when it's charged separately.

What's included, and what costs extra

This is where quotes that look similar turn out to be very different. A basic package usually covers one or two platforms, three to five posts a week using templates, and a simple monthly report. Strategy, community management and original video are often not included.

Things that are commonly charged on top:

  • Ad spend. You pay this to Meta or TikTok directly. Bravery notes that ad management fees are typically 10–20% of ad spend on top.
  • Video and photo shoots. Often £500–£2,000 a day if a crew is needed.
  • Community management. Replying to comments and messages, especially out of hours.
  • Setup fees. Bravery puts these at £500–£3,000, although many smaller providers don't charge one.

Bark's own breakdown shows how the price climbs as you add services: around £350 a month for posting only, rising to around £900 once reporting, customer service, content creation and paid ads are included.

What pushes the price up or down

  • Number of platforms. Each extra channel adds work, and video-led platforms cost the most.
  • Posting frequency. One estimate from TDS suggests 12 posts a month takes 6–8 hours of work, while 30+ posts takes 20–30 hours.
  • Type of content. Stock images are cheapest, custom graphics cost more, and original video costs the most.
  • Experience and location. London and the South East typically cost more.
  • Your industry. Regulated sectors such as healthcare usually need more care and approvals.

Contracts, minimum terms and notice periods

Whito reviewed eight UK agencies' published terms in September 2026. Two stated a three-month minimum, two said they don't use contracts, and notice periods were usually 30 days or one calendar month. A three-month minimum with 30 days' notice is a common middle ground. Always check whether you keep ownership of your accounts and content if you leave.

How much should a small business budget?

Many small businesses have tight overall marketing budgets. LOCALiQ's UK research, reported by Whito, found that 41% of the businesses it surveyed budget under £5,000 a year for all of their marketing. For most small businesses that means one of two routes:

  • Content only. Pay a professional to create the content and post it yourself. This gives you premium posts for less, if you have a few minutes a day.
  • Fully managed on fewer platforms. Do two platforms well rather than five badly, then add more once you see results.

Before you sign, ask every provider the same questions: how many posts a month, on which platforms, who creates the content, whether video is included, what the report shows, and what the notice period is.

Where Ivory Voltage fits

We publish our prices on our pricing page because so few agencies do. Our managed packages include cinematic AI video and images, captions, hashtags and posting, starting at £625 a month at our founding client price for two platforms. If you'd rather post yourself, content-only packages start at £499 a month. Contracts are monthly rolling with 30 days' notice. See exactly what's included on our social media management page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a social media manager cost per month in the UK?

Most small businesses pay roughly £300–£800 a month for a freelancer, while agencies typically charge from around £800 to £10,000+ a month depending on platforms, content and reporting.

What do UK social media freelancers charge per hour?

Published guides put freelancer rates at roughly £15–£60 an hour depending on experience, with some quotes reaching £100+ an hour. YunoJuno reports an average day rate of £326.

Is ad spend included in social media management?

Usually not. Ad spend is paid to the platform directly, and managing paid ads is often charged on top, typically 10–20% of the spend or a separate monthly fee.

Will I be tied into a long contract?

Many UK agencies use a three-month minimum with one month's notice, and some have no contract at all. Check the notice period and who owns your accounts before signing.

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Sources (8)

Figures were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so check the latest before acting. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.